Pakistani court convicts 5 American terrorists to 10 years in jail

A Pakistani court sentenced five Americans on charges of criminal conspiracy and funding a banned terror organization. They grew up together in Alexandria, Virginia, and were arrested in December in Pakistan.

A daily summary of global reports on security issues.

A Pakistani court convicted five American citizens on terror charges Thursday. The men were fined and sentenced to 10 years in jail by an anti-terrorism court. Their successful conviction heightens concerns about American Muslims and other westerners traveling to Pakistan to seek militant training and connect with Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and other extremist organizations.

The five men were arrested in the northeastern city of Sargodha after their families reported them missing in December. All grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C. They have been charged on two counts, reports Reuters: criminal conspiracy and funding a banned terror organization. They were also fined a total $821.